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Evolution of a vertebrate social decision-making network.
Lauren A O'Connell1, Hans A Hofmann
1Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 2, 2012
Summary
Neural mechanisms underlying social decisions are conserved across vertebrates. Gene expression in brain regions shows evolutionary flexibility, explaining diverse social behaviors through variations on conserved networks.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Understanding the neural basis of social decision-making is crucial for biology.
- Social behaviors in vertebrates are diverse and complex.
- The evolutionary conservation of brain structures involved in decision-making is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary conservation of brain regions and neurochemical gene expression related to decision-making.
- To explore how gene expression patterns in the brain contribute to the diversity of social behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of expression profiles for 10 neurochemical genes.
- Examination across 12 decision-making brain regions.
- Study encompassed 88 species from five vertebrate lineages.
Main Results:
- Behaviorally relevant brain regions are highly conserved over 450 million years.
- Neuroendocrine ligand distribution is more evolutionarily flexible than their receptors.
- Different brain regions exhibit distinct evolutionary selection pressures.
Conclusions:
- Conserved neural and gene expression networks provide a foundational theme for vertebrate social behavior.
- Variations in these conserved networks contribute to the wide spectrum of social behaviors observed.
- The findings offer insights into the evolution of complex sociality in vertebrates.
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